Following a number of Russian and Belarusian athletes being banned or excluded from sports events due to the Ukraine-war, The IOC has confirmed athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to compete in the Paris Olympics.
However, there are a number of stringent conditions that they must follow including competing without flags, emblems or anthems of their country.
Ukraine threatened to boycott the games if the ban was not upheld but as they are playing under a neutral flag they said they would compete.
See the conditions below:
The conditions for their participation are as follows:
- Qualified athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport will be entered as, and compete as AINs.
- Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport will not be considered.
- Athletes and support personnel who actively support the war will not be eligible to be entered or to compete.
- Athletes and support personnel contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies will not be eligible to be entered or to compete.
- Any AIN, like all other participating athletes, must meet all anti-doping requirements.
- The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian states and governments remain in place, including: No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications of Russia or Belarus will be displayed in any official venue or function at Paris 2024, and no Russian or Belarusian government or state officials will be invited or accredited.
The games will take place from the 26 July to 11 August 2024.